Hate Is Forcing One Transgender Woman Out of North Carolina
Why she chose to move to Harlem.
By Gregory Cagle
North Carolina has become ground zero for the culture war against transgender women and men — since the state passed the country’s most sweeping anti-LGBT legislation. Many across the state — and the nation — are ready to battle and make sure their voices are heard.
But not everyone is willing to stay in a state that discriminates against the LGBT community with special attention focus on transgender individuals and where they’re allowed to use the bathroom.
Ashley, who was born Marquis Murray, resides in Charlotte, NC, and has been transitioning for the past year. Because she wants nothing to get in the way of her process, she’s decided to pull up her stakes and relocate to Harlem. Here, she talks about what her life is like and why she’s decided to move here.
Transitioning from male to female is hard enough, and Ashley, 25, believes this new bill will hinder her plans. “I basically just started because the first half of the year was just me taking hormones,” she says. “The people who are passing these bills do not understand what we have to deal with already.”
After the initial shock from her family and close friends she gets lots of support. Though the crux of the North Carolina bill and other legislation is supposedly to prevent transgender individuals from abusing women and girls in public restrooms, some members of Ashley’s family worry more about her safety. “I think about her all the time and if she is safe,” says Kima, Ashley’s 23-year-old sister. “Even though I know she does not use public bathrooms it could be that one time where she has no choice so what should she do?”
Adds Ashley: “To be honest I don’t use either bathroom just to respect other people.”
Despite encouragement from most of her family, Ashley’s father remains uncomfortable with his daughter’s new life. “This has caused a major issue with my parents,” explains Ashley. “My mother is not for the bill but my father agrees with it. He still calls me Marquis and says I need to use the bathroom like a man because I have not had the sex change.”
Ashley is in the process of changing her name permanently and will move to Harlem in the next couple of months. “At least I have a better chance at being accepted and blending in,” she says. “New York City is more diverse and have more organizations to support the transgender community.”
Ashley plans to enroll in City College in spring 2017 to study mass communications. She hopes to make a difference for people like her: “I want to finish my education so I can start a talent agency geared towards the trans community.”
